Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 671

International Webinar on Digital Architecture 2021 (IWEDA 2021)

Quality Evaluation of Natural Lighting and Visual

Comfort in the Classroom
Sri Novianthi Pratiwi1,* Etty R. Kridarso1 Deka Triwibowo2
1
Architecture Department, Trisakti University, Jakarta, Indonesia
2
Sustainable Desain Engineer, Airkon Pratama, Jakarta, Indonesia
*
Corresponding author. Email: srinovianthi@trisakti.ac.id

ABSTRACT
Natural lighting is an important consideration in effective classroom design to support learning activities. The most
important factors in maximizing natural lighting are facade design, window openings, and building orientation. The
purpose of this study is to assess the quality of natural lighting in the SMA Negeri (SMAN)/ Public High school 6
DKI Jakarta school building. This study examines how the design of window openings and facades affects lighting
quality and how current classroom design conditions affect students' comfort while carrying out learning activities.
The analysis in this study uses the DIALux software to simulate and measure the level of natural lighting in classroom
and laboratory. From the results of the study, it was found that the level of natural lighting has met the standard but
still needs to be optimized by classroom design factors such as window height positions, student heights position, and
some interior attributes.

Keywords: Classroom, Natural lighting, Visual comfort, Window, Design.

1. INTRODUCTION With the duration of solar radiation is relatively stable

Lighting is a very important aspect to support
learning activities in school buildings. Good lighting
settings in the classroom need to be conditioned from
natural and artificial lighting. The purpose of natural
lighting is to get lighting in the building space during
the day.
The benefits of natural lighting in the classroom
have been proven by several studies. Heschong Mahone
Group [1] confirmed that the researched more than
20,000 elementary students and 100 schools in the USA
approved the effect of sufficient day lighting in
classrooms increased 26% faster in reading and 20 %
quicker in mathematics [2]. Health benefits and natural
lighting in the classroom explained that natural light is
shown to benefit the health, concentration and even test
scores of students, and also improves immune quality
and blood pressure [3]. Meanwhile, in relation to energy
saving, optimizing natural lighting in buildings is
known could reduce energy consumption to 40-45% [4].
Indonesia, as a tropical country with a very large
duration of sunlight, is a potential that should be utilized
to obtain optimal natural light. Buildings located in
humid tropical climates get abundant sunlight intensity.
throughout the year, namely between 06.00 -18.00 or
between 10-12 hours [5].
Window openings are part of the building where
natural light enters. Public school buildings in Indonesia
generally have almost a similar design. This includes
SMAN 6 Jakarta, where the design of the classrooms
and window openings has become a design that is in
accordance with the recommendations. In determining
the window design, it is necessary to pay attention to
many factors such as orientation, window wall ratio, and
type of glass. These three factors are very important to
create optimal lighting quality but also do not cause a
reduction in the thermal comfort in the room.
It should be noted that natural lighting for the
convenience of learning and teaching activities must
also pay attention to its visual comfort, especially in
avoiding glare. The window display is one of the factors
that affect the uncomfortable glare sensing from the
window [6], and certain positions in the classroom have
the potential to get direct or indirect glare. By setting the
table interior, chairs facing the white board, it is also
necessary to evaluate which positions are less than
optimal in terms of visual comfort due to glare.

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 671

From the description above, the purpose of this

study is to obtain information about natural lighting in
classrooms, especially at the location of a high school in
the city of Jakarta, namely SMAN 6 Jakarta. Thus, it is
hoped that information will be obtained regarding
compliance with the standards recommended in the
National Standard (SNI) regarding building lighting.

2. METHODS
In this study, natural lighting testing was carried out
in two room which were classroom and laboratory in the
SMAN 6 Jakarta building. The simulation were
conducted to determine the intensity of natural light in
classrooms. The simulation was carried out using the
DIALux lighting simulation software and the use of a
lux meter. From the results of the DIALux simulation
value, it is then adjusted to the recommended standard
of lighting intensity, namely by looking at the SNI
6197-2011 [7]. The value of the recommended average
level of illumination in SNI 6197-2011 can be seen in
Table 1.
Figure 1 Illustration of the position of the SMAN 6
Jakarta building against the sun's position.
When viewed from the orientation of the sun, the
school building has great potential in utilizing natural
lighting in the room if the planning for transparent
openings takes this into account, because the building
envelope diagonally receives sunlight from East to West
(Figure 1). Although there are indeed some rooms on
the Northeast side that do not get natural lighting at
certain times, this is due to the addition of a building for
classrooms adjacent to the classroom building next to it
(Figure 2).

Table 1. Standard recommendation of average

lighting level
Room Function Lighting Level (Lux)
Classroom 350
Library 300
Laboratory 500
Drawing Room 750
(Source: SNI-6197-2011)

The sample classroom was selected by taking into

account the orientation position of the room. In carrying
out the simulation several steps are considered, Figure 2 Position of lighting measurement at SMAN 6
including: Jakarta.

 Documentation the condition of the room
samples: by collecting measurable image
documentation to determine the dimensions of
the classroom and window openings. List the
interior and classroom furniture settings, the
color of the walls, floors, ceilings.
 Setting general weather conditions and time
setting: In simulating the natural lighting of the
classroom, it used the setting for sunny weather
conditions and for the simulation hours set at
10.00 WIB, which is assumed to be the time the
teaching and learning activities take place.
The sample classrooms selected were the classrooms
on the 2nd floor in the northeast position and the 2nd
floor laboratory room. In the southwest position. For the
wall color of the two samples the room were using a
light green color with a bright reflectivity level of 70-
90%. Floor material were using white ceramic, with
ceramic reflectance of 65-75%, while the glass material
for window in the facade of the classroom using clear
glass.
3.1. Evaluation of Natural Lighting in the
Classroom

3. RESULTS AND DISCCUSION

SMAN 6 Jakarta is located in the South Jakarta
Region of Indonesia with coordinates 6°14'33"S
106°47'50"E. The facilities at SMAN 6 Jakarta include
classrooms, laboratories, library, a canteen, etc. An
illustration of the condition of the SMAN 6 Jakarta Figure 3 The condition of the object measuring the
building with respect to the sun's position can be seen in level of lighting in the northeast orientation of SMAN 6
Figure 1. Jakarta.

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 671
In the classroom of the new building on the side on
the 2nd floor, the DIALux software simulation was
carried out at 10.00 WIB. At that hour, optimal natural
lighting is obtained which enters more than 350 lux,
covering an area of 50% of the classroom area. This can
reduce by 50% of the use of electrical energy in the
room lights in the morning until the afternoon (Figure 4)
Figure 4 Simulation results of classroom lighting levels
at SMAN 6 Jakarta.
Based on the direct survey results, the classroom
window glass material uses clear glass, but in the
classroom the classroom window glass openings are
closed using curtains with the aim of blocking the glare.
The use of curtains will certainly prevent the entry of
natural light into the classroom (figure 5).
Figure 5 The condition of the occurrence of glare in the
classroom of SMAN 6 Jakarta.
From the results of observations in the field, the
cause of glare is due to the sill height of the window that
is parallel to the height of students when sitting. In
actual conditions, by closing the windows with curtains,
impacted to the use of artificial lighting. However, the
lighting level of the existing lamps still does not meet
the standards, because the lighting system planning has
not been designed properly (figure 6).
Figure 6. The condition of the lamps used in the
classrooms of SMAN 6 Jakarta.
3.2. Evaluation of Natural Lighting in the
Laboratory
The condition of the object for measuring the level
of lighting in the laboratory room at SMAN 6 Jakarta
(figure 7.)
Figure 7 The condition of the object for measuring the
level of lighting in the laboratory room at SMAN 6
Jakarta.
From the simulation results using DIALux Software
on the level of natural lighting in the laboratory room on
the 2nd floor of the Southwest side of the school
building, it was found that optimal natural lighting
entered > 500 lux covering an area of 75% of the
classroom area. This can reduce at least 50% of the use
of electrical energy in the room during the use of the
classroom for teaching and learning (Figure 8).
Figure 8 Results of measuring the level of lighting in
the laboratory at SMAN 6 Jakarta.
4. CONCLUSIONS
It was found that the level of natural lighting in
Classroom and Laboratory that used as sample in
SMAN 6 Jakarta have met the standard (> 350 lux for
classroom) and (500 lux for laboratory). However, this
condition is still needs to be optimized. With the
condition of classrooms in SMAN 6 which planning is
not optimal, in terms of orientation, the sides are still
blocked, glare and incoming heat radiation. Although
natural lighting is good enough, it cannot be denied that
for the visual comfort of the classroom, artificial
lighting is needed.
Design factors such as window height position,
student height position, and several interior attributes
are things that reduce the quality of visual comfort in
the classroom. The conditions found includes glare, wall
color selection, and curtains that cover the entry of
natural lighting.
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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 671

For further research, it is recommended to increase

the sample classroom and measurement time to obtain
more data and more accurate results.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This article was supported by the Ministry of
Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of
Republic Indonesia. Part of Grant numbers
317/UN40.LP/PT.01.03/2021 under LPPM-Universitas
Pendidikan Indonesia
This article is part of a study on net zero energy for
school buildings in collaboration between Trisakti
University and the Green Building Council Indonesia
(GBCI).

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